What others have said about
Hon. William A. Webb

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 12744
Rating:9.8 Comments:
Comments based on experience in multiple civil cases: Judge Webb is very smart. In my cases, he always has read briefs and any unfamiliar cases in advance and, in areas where he didn't have prior experience and knowledge of the law, conducted his own additional research. Counsel should be prepared for the possibility that he will have case law on point that was not cited in the briefs, and will ask about those cases. Very personable with a good sense of humor. Seems reluctant to display the more human side of that personality while conducting hearings in open court; it's more obvious in meetings in chambers. Careful to ensure that neither side gets a biased advantage. Not tolerant of delays without explanation, nor of shoddy work. Interesting comment from another poster suggests he's "pro defendant" in criminal cases. I suspect that person doesn't recall that Judge Webb was on the prosecution side both at the state level (Deputy Comm'r of Crime Control) and federal (assistant US attorney)for many years prior to his appointment. My friends who are prosecutors have found his rulings appropriate in their cases. I don't try criminal cases, but have watched cases that were ahead of me. He looks fair in the courtroom in those cases, and I would have guessed there was a slight pro-prosecution leaning. What I've heard, though, is that he isn't a judge who accepts even incredible government testimony as unquestionably truthful, or who assumes that each prosecutor's own descriptions of the evidence always accurately reflect what the evidence would show. Trust is given where it's earned. Personally, I think that's a good trait.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 7812
Rating:9.8 Comments:
One of my favorites. Extremely smart and a great judge in civil litigation! EDNC judges often defer substantial authority to magistrate judges, and Judge Webb is among those on whom the Article 3 judges rely, as evidenced not only by the ready acceptance of his proposed decisions/orders but also his committee appointments for EDNC work. Expects attorneys to be prepared and will take attorneys to task when they are not prepared -- he typically will not only have read all cited cases, but additional ones that he thinks my be pertinent, and will ask questions about them. He also expects counsel to meet deadlines or ask in advance for extensions; he does not like, and often will not grant, belated requests. Those who don't like him typically are those who came to his courtroom unprepared, or who submitted documents that weren't entirely accurate. EDNC judges, including Judge Webb, expect completely truthful filings in civil litigation and expect civility among counsel.